Linked Questions

3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why is quantum mechanical momentum the derivative of the wave function with respect to the position? [duplicate]

In classical mechanics the momentum is defined as mass times the time-derivative of position. In quantum mechanics, however, the time-derivative of the wave function is the hamiltonian, while the ...
Alex Throwaway's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
128 views

Common observables and associated operators: operator momentum [duplicate]

Starting from my previous question Commutators in quantum mechanics and considering that the commutator $$\left[i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial x},x\right]=i\hbar, \tag{1}$$ the associated linear ...
Sebastiano's user avatar
  • 2,575
17 votes
3 answers
6k views

Does the canonical commutation relation fix the form of the momentum operator?

For one dimensional quantum mechanics $$[\hat{x},\hat{p}]=i\hbar. $$ Does this fix univocally the form of the $\hat{p}$ operator? My bet is no because $\hat{p}$ actually depends if we are on ...
J L's user avatar
  • 2,937
11 votes
3 answers
18k views

Matrix elements of momentum operator in position representation

I have two related questions on the representation of the momentum operator in the position basis. The action of the momentum operator on a wave function is to derive it: $$\hat{p} \psi(x)=-i\hbar\...
a06e's user avatar
  • 3,802
10 votes
2 answers
4k views

Proving that $i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial \mathbf{p}}$ is the operator of $\mathbf{x}$ in momentum space

How can I prove that $i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial \mathbf{p}}$ is the operator of $\mathbf{x}$ in momentum space?
fronthem's user avatar
  • 527
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the most general expression for the coordinate representation of momentum operator?

I have a question about deriving the coordinate representation of momentum operator from the canonical commutation relation, $$[x,p]= i.$$ One derivation (ref W. Greiner's Quantum Mechanics: An ...
user26143's user avatar
  • 6,451
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Proof that the momentum operator is hermitian without assuming the wavefunction approaches zero at infinity?

I am currently taking my second semester of quantum mechanics. For a number of proofs in the course, we have used the assumption that the wavefunction goes to zero at infinity. We have simply used the ...
Miles Johnson's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why operator of kinetic energy has a double derivative instead of square of single derivative?

I know that operator for $p = {h\over i} {d\over dx}$. so $p = {h\over i} {d\psi\over dx}$ where $\psi$ is the wave function. So, $T$ (kinetic energy) $ = {p^2 \over 2m} = {-h^2\over 2m} {d\psi \over ...
NiRVANA's user avatar
  • 377
7 votes
1 answer
369 views

What is the origin of the quantum operators for $p$ and $E$ in standard QM?

It is always stated the quantum operators for ${p}$ and $E$ are the ones we´re familiar with (the operator for energy, $E=i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t}$ and the momentum operator, $p=-i\hbar\...
Deschele Schilder's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
659 views

Is commutation relation $[\hat x, \hat p]= i \hbar$ or momentum operator $\hat p = -i \hbar \nabla$ an axiom of QM?

In first year QM we postulated $\hat p = -i \hbar \nabla$ and used it to derive that $[\hat x, \hat p]= i \hbar$. In fourth year QM they postulated $[\hat x, \hat p]= i \hbar$ and used spatial ...
Alex Gower's user avatar
  • 2,654
2 votes
0 answers
76 views

Is there any value in the following observation?

In the modern interpretation of differential geometry a tangent vector is identified as a derivation: $\frac{\partial}{\partial x}$. In Quantum Mechanics, momentum - which is classically understood ...
Mozibur Ullah's user avatar